Face shield



Dec 27,1938.

M. FEILER FACE SHIELD Filed Oct. 16, 1936 0 t n 8 v n 0 Patented Dec. 27, 1938 T OFFIQE FACE SHIELD Malwin Feiler, Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany Application October 16, 1936, Serial No, 105,906 In Germany October 26, 1935 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for protecting by means of a transparent sheet doctors, patients, nursing attendants and the like from transmitting or catching infectious diseases through the cavities of. the nose and mouth.

It is already known that when dealing with infectious diseases doctors use a covering for the face which consists of a protective sheet of glass-clear, thin material which however is resistant towards damage, is flexible, is not dimmed when breathed upon and is impermeable towards bacteria and microbes, for example the material known under the registered trade-mark Cellophane, which sheet is provided at the upper forehead part with a ledge of thin cardboard or the like so that it can be slipped under the forehead band of the illuminating mirror and in this way lies easily in front of the face. This arrangement however has not turned out to be perfect since the placing into position by slipping under the forehead band is comparatively bothersome and also there is no surety of a constant holding in position by means of the forehead band, on the contrary when the head is moved with comparative violence, or when adjusting the reflector, displacements may take place which loosen or release the Cellophane sheet. Furthermore there is the disadvantage of waste in material inasmuch as obviously there must be a stiffening provided in the case of the known face mask in order to be able to slip it under the forehead band at all. The provision of an arrangement which excludes the use of any special strengthening of the transparent sheet consequently represents a distinct advantage.

The said disadvantages are avoided and the advantages set out realized by the device consisting of a band comprising a flexible strip which embraces the head at the level of the forehead, on which at about the region of the temples two fastening means, for example clips are provided which hold the sheet, consisting of transparent material, which however is impermeable to bacteria, e. g. of precipitated or regenerated cellulose, cellulose esters and cellulose ethers, in a bowed position over the whole face. It is advisable that the part of the band on which the two clips are fastened be extensible only a little or not at all and after taking off the band can be easily flattened, whilst the rear part of the band may be extensible e. g. may consist of rubber band, which is unclosed and which is held together by means of a buckle or clasp, for example.

According to a further constructional form of the invention the front part of the band, on which the two clips are fastened, consists of thin steel band and about in the middle between the two clips has an eye in which the examining mirror is to be fastened. Preferably in this con structional form the steel band is made in a number of parts and the individual parts are joined together by means of hinges. In order to enable the rubber band to be more readily released from the slightly yielding band parts, the front band part is connected to the rear by eyes, or buckle members around the bridge pieces of which the ends of the corresponding band parts are looped and fastened.

The clips which hold the sheet of cellulose are suitably equipped with clamping face of high frictional effect. According to the invention faces of this kind are formed of rubber.

In this manner a device is obtained which is useful for the protection from infection and for which specially prepared sheets of transparent material do not have to be employed, but for which sheets cut to the correct size can be forthwith used without any modification, that is to say without any special stiffening.

Two constructional forms of the device according to the invention are shown in general view in the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 shows the first constructional form intended for use for the most part by doctors themselves. The middle portion consists of a steel band divided up into a number of parts, the individual parts I, 2 and 3 of which portion, are connected with one another by means of hinges 4. 5. An eye S is provided on the middle part I of the steel band, in which the reflector or illuminating mirror can be fixed. On the side parts 2 and 3, clips I and 8 are fastened which hold the sheet 9 of transparent material. The parts 2, 3 are connected at their non-hinged ends with buckle members H], II, and to each of these members is fastened the end of. rubber bands I2 and I3 respectively. At its opposite end the rubber band i2 is provided with a clasp or buckle with which the free end of band l3 may be held.

In the constructional form shown in Fig. 2, intended chiefly for nursing attendants, for mothers and similar persons, who wish to protect themselves from catching infectious diseases or infecting their charges, the middle portion M consists for example of a slightly extensible textile or fabric band, at the two ends of which two clips 1 and 8 are provided near the two buckle members ill and H. For the rest this constructional form corresponds to that described above.

Fig. 3 shows an open clip alone. As will be seen, the clamping faces are formed of linings l5, which may consist of rubber. In this way, since the coeflicient of friction between a sheet of cellulose and rubber is very high, the sheet is safely held. For further security the surfaces may also be roughened.

The first constructional form is intended always to accompany the practitioner on his visits and to be used not only in combination with the reflector but also alone in the auscultation of patients suffering from infectious diseases.

The flat folded forehead band, consisting half of nickeled steel strip and half of rubber band, is always carried by the doctor in his bag or prescription wallet, as well as said sheet of trans parent material.

Before examining the patient the sheet 9 is placed between the two clips 1 and 8 of the steel band, which hold it firmly. The forehead band is then placed around the head. If the doctor desires to inspect the mouth cavity or the nose a reflector or forehead lamp is fastened to the forehead band by holding means.

This constructional form is also intended for use by doctors and dentists as a breath shield, when they themselves are suffering from catarrh of the air passages and are carrying out their occupations.

The second constructional form is intended and desirable for the public at large. For example this form may be used by attendants in cases of infectious disease in hospital wards and also in the home in cases of respiratory illnesses and the like.

I claim:-

1. In combination a head band and a face shield comprising a sheet of thin, highly flexible and easily tearable transparent material, said head band consisting of a bendable front portion having a length slightly greater than the width of a face to be covered by said shield and being formed of a substantially non-stretchable material, and an adjustable portion joined to said front portion, clasp members secured to said front portion adjacent the ends thereof, said first named material being removably held by said clasp members throughout substantially its entire width to said front portion and being arched by said front portion to cover the face of a user when said band is placed upon the head of said user.

2. The combination as in claim 1, said nonstretchable portion comprising a plurality of metal segments hingedly connected to each other, and said clasp members being mounted on the end segments of said non-stretchable portion.

MALWIN FEILER. 

